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Certification

Level 1 Certification in Grief Therapy

Level 2 Certification

Meaning-Focused Grief Therapy (MFGT)

Family-Focused Grief Therapy (FFGT)

Grief Therapy for Non-Death Losses (NDL)

Art-Assisted Grief Therapy (AAGT)

Grief Therapy for Traumatic Loss (GTTL)

Training

In-Person Training

Working with Continuing Bonds in Grief Therapy: A Clinician’s Toolbox

When Dying Is Well Accompanied: A Quest for Meaning in Terminal Illness

Grief Therapy Learning Retreat

Live Online Training

Grief and the Expressive Arts: Activating the Creative Imagination

Recorded Training

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ACORN PLMS

Recorded Training

Memory Boxes:
Creating Containers of Love & Loss

In this module, learners will learn about the art therapy practice of creating memory boxes with bereaved patients.  As containers, boxes readily protect and hold memories, secrets, narratives, and emotions.  They provide a space for creating, storytelling, exploration and documentation.  Boxes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, and may be painted, decorated, collaged, and drawn upon.  The creator may choose to use the inside for more hidden and intimate content while the outside can encompass defenses and a more external focus.  Precious mementos may be safely stored inside.  This creative practice provides a range of therapeutic benefits, and it is rooted in art therapy based theories as well as in current bereavement and grief theories, including Continuing Bonds and Meaning Reconstruction.  Case studies of a bereaved child, adolescent, and adult will highlight the use of this modality for bereaved patients of all ages and backgrounds.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Identify three art therapy principles, used in the art therapy practice of memory box creation, that provide unique therapeutic benefits for grieving patients;
  • Summarize the ways that the art therapy practice of memory box making, including both the process and the product, may promote meaning reconstruction for grieving patients;
  • Discuss the ways that memory boxes may be used to nurture and explore the formation and preservation of continuing bonds for grieving children, adolescents, and adults; and
  • Describe three elements in the practice of art therapy memory boxes that facilitate grief treatment with Neimeyer’s framework of bracing, pacing and facing.

Earn 1 Credit for Technique Module toward
Certification in Meaning-Focused Grief Therapy
or Certification in Art-Assisted Grief Therapy
Offered by the Portland Institute.

 
 

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

This program contains the following video segments:

  • An Introduction: History, Materials and Clinical Extensions of Boxes (29 mins)
  • Case Illustration: Working with Sibling Losses (21 mins)
  • Case Illustration: Working with Perinatal Losses (24 mins)
  • Memory Boxes: Process and Products (20 mins)

Memory Boxes:
Creating Containers of Love & Loss

Purchase without CEs
USD$99 for 3-hour module / USD$124 with CE Credits

GRIEF TRAINING FACULTY​

Sarah Vollmann

DSW, MPS,
ATR-BC, LICSW
Cambridge, MA, United States

Sarah Vollmann, DSW, MPS, ATR-BC, LICSW, is a registered, board-certified art therapist, licensed clinical social worker, and researcher. She is a faculty member of the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, and the Associate Director of the Young Widowhood Project. She maintains a private practice specializing in grief and traumatic loss, and is the Lead Counselor at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. Her work has been published in OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying, Death Studies, The International Journal of Art Therapy, andThe Journal of the American Art Therapy Association.  She has authored several book chapters on art therapy and grief, and co-authored a recent book entitled Born Into Loss: Shadows of a Deceased Sibling and Family Journeys of Grief. She presents nationally and internationally on art therapy, grief, and bereavement.

Testimonials

I really liked the session and learned a lot about myself throughout this experience. I learned a lot of practical skills and strategies that I can use for myself or even for my clients in between and during sessions.

Sarah Abi-Khaled

It was great learning and reinforcement of the value of making meaning for one’s posttraumatic growth. I really like the way you model validation and reframing in your case studies. Meeting a client where they are and then facilitating with one of interventions you’ve given, in their moment of readiness. Teaching and modeling this is very helpful to watch unfold.

Celeste Miller

I appreciate so much how Dr. Neimeyer and Dr. Ng explain, present and model the use of the techniques throughout the workshop. Both Drs. Neimeyer and Ng are top in their field. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many other faculty at the retreat–all of whom are experts in this field. I look forward to participating in the certificate program.

Beth Bowman

I enjoyed the whole seminar – very informative and well organized.

Stephanie Enos

Deeply moving, well-supported with theory and research, extremely useful and inspiring. The slides were beautiful and engrossing. I’m sure we were all looking closely and deeply, in a parallel process with the screen and within ourselves.

Robin Roberts

I was very moved by the instructor sharing her personal experience as well as her art. Having her client present to share her loss and her art was also powerful and impactful. The learning from this class was deep and sustaining.

Paula Lowden

I truly loved everything. I particularly enjoyed the combinations of lecture and experientials.

Kristen Moore

The entire retreat was amazing. It was perfectly paced for learning and creating. It was both personally powerful and professionally. I loved the Lunch and Learn.

Brenda Daly

I am extremely impressed by this conference. The topics, the presenters. It was well worth the time and money.

Cynthia Crockett

Thank you for a beautiful retreat. I was moved to tears several times and it has set me on a course of deeper discovery. The presenters were all top notch, knowlegeable, and engaging. The activities allowed us to discover many things about ourselves and sharing the experience with others was invaluable. Those interactions will stay with me for a long time.

Jean Edwards

Honored & grateful for the PI team. Such a wealth of knowledge, expertise & compassion for humanity & healing suffering. I cannot wait to engage further with the PI trainings!

Nola Simpson

This is my first experience with PI and now I have found my go-to place for ongoing learning, mentoring & connection! I’m so excited for more! 

Monica Hanza

Well done!  Appropriate breadth & nice depth of skills covered. Appreciate the experiential approach. Knowledgeable & supportive faculty. Looking forward to doing more with PI in the future.

Allison Ilem

PI’s Grief Therapy Learning Retreat offered a safe holding space for grief professionals to gather in a beautiful setting & learn with prominent leaders in the field of thanatology. Professional yet warm, rigorous yet invigorating — I’m leaving with a sense of renewal to meeting clients where they are.

Lisa A. Rainwater

The retreat, the attendees, the faculty, the leaders and the offerings (learning opportunities) were really off-the-charts amazing. Thank you for creating an event that has been transformational for me.

Sheila Henderson

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